Citation

Ramos JM, Melendez N, Reyes F, Gudiso G, Biru D, Fano G, Aberra G, Tessema D, Tesfamariam A, Balcha S, Gutiérrez F. Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. 2015; 22(1): 76-79.

Affiliation

Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Alicante, Spain; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Institute of Agricultural Medicine of Poland)

DOI

10.5604/12321966.1141372

PMID

25780832

Abstract

The presented report describes the epidemiology of potential rabies exposures and examines the utilization of anti-rabies vaccine in a rural area of Ethiopia during a period of 43 months. A total of 683 persons (51.1% females, 73% children) with animal- related bites were included in the retrospective, registry-based study. The most common site of exposure was the leg (66.8%). In children under 8 years of age the face was more often involved than in adults (9.5% vs. 4.8%; p=0.03). The main type of exposure was a bite with bleeding (66.3%) followed by contamination of mucous membranes with saliva (19.7%). The primary sources were dogs (93.4%) followed by cats (2.6%). Children under 15 years were more likely to be exposed to dogs (94.9%) than adults (88.7%) (p=0.01). The most common way of coming in contact with animals was 'walking by' (83.9%). Children came in contact with animals while 'playing with' (10.7%) more often than adults (1.1%) (p<0.001). All the patients received an anti-rabies nervous-tissue vaccine, 99% of whom completed the vaccination course. Animal bites continue to be a problem in rural Ethiopia, mainly among children. Efforts to protect children against animal bites must be of paramount importance in preventing rabies in this population.

Keywords: Animal Bites; Dog Bites

Language: en